SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION
A device for endometrial ablation having an elongated shaft with a working end comprising an expandable-contractable frame, a complaint energy-delivery surface carried by the frame, the surface and the frame being configured to engage against the interior of a patient's uterine cavity when the working end is inserted into the cavity and the frame is expanded.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A method for performing endometrial ablation, comprising:
introducing a probe working end into a patient's uterine cavity, the probe working end comprising an expandable-contractible metal frame and a compliant energy-delivery surface;
actuating the expandable-contractible metal frame to expand the energy-delivery surface in the uterine cavity;
actuating an inflation source to further expand the energy-delivery surface in the uterine cavity; and
delivering energy from or through the energy-delivery surface to cause endometrial ablation.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the expandable-contractible metal frame is moveable from a linear configuration to an expanded triangular shape.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the expandable-contractible metal frame comprises spring elements.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the expandable-contractible metal frame expands the compliant energy-delivery surface in a first plane and the inflation expands the compliant energy-delivery surface in a direction generally transverse to the first plane.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the energy is delivered by at least one electrode carried by the compliant energy-delivery surface.
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the energy is delivered by bipolar electrodes carried by the compliant energy-delivery surface.
8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the energy is delivered by conductive heating the compliant energy-delivery surface.
9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the inflation source delivers an inflation pressure to the working end of at least 20 mmHg.
10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the working end comprises an inflation chamber surrounded by a thin wall elastomeric membrane, wherein a circulating gas stream within the inflation chamber is maintained at least 20 mmHg above ambient pressure.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the compliant energy-delivery surface circumscribes the inflation chamber.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the compliant energy-delivery surface further circumscribes the expandable-contractible metal frame.
13 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the compliant energy-delivery surface is expanded in one stage by the expandable-contractible metal frame and in a separate stage by the inflation source.
14 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the compliant energy-delivery surface comprises a thin-walled elastomer.
15 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the compliant energy-delivery surface comprises a silicone elastomer.
16 . A method for performing endometrial ablation, comprising:
introducing a probe working end into a patient's uterine cavity, the working end comprising a compliant energy-delivery surface and an expandable-contractible metal frame having one or more spring elements;
actuating the expandable-contractible metal frame to expand the energy-delivery surface within the uterine cavity in a lateral direction;
actuating an inflation source to further expand the energy-delivery surface in the uterine cavity in a direction transverse to the lateral direction; and
delivering energy from or through the energy-delivery surface to cause endometrial ablation.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the energy is delivered by at least one electrode carried by the compliant energy-delivery surface.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the energy is delivered by bipolar electrodes carried by the compliant energy-delivery surface.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the energy is delivered by conductive heating the compliant energy-delivery surface.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the working end comprises an inflation chamber surrounded by a thin wall elastomeric membrane, wherein a circulating gas stream within the inflation chamber is maintained at least 20 mmHg above ambient pressure.
21 . A method for performing endometrial ablation, comprising:
introducing a probe working end into a patient's uterine cavity, the working end comprising a compliant energy-delivery surface and an expandable-contractible metal frame that is moveable from a linear configuration to an expanded triangular shape;
actuating the expandable-contractible metal frame from its linear configuration to its expanded triangular shape in order to expand the energy-delivery surface within the uterine cavity in a lateral direction;
actuating an inflation source to further expand the energy-delivery surface in the uterine cavity in a direction transverse to the lateral direction; and
delivering energy from or through the energy-delivery surface to cause endometrial ablation.